Ellen during her internship in Madrid, Spain

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hello, I’m Ellen, a 24-year-old from Wageningen, the Netherlands. After finishing my bachelor’s in English and Spanish in Utrecht, I took a gap year and went to Madrid with the idea of doing a one-month CELTA course to get certified in teaching English to adults. After that, I hoped to find a job somewhere in Spain. I didn’t plan to stay in Madrid for the whole year because I thought it was too big a city and I wouldn’t want to spend more than a month there. But in the end, I fell in love with it, found a job on the last day of the CELTA course, and ended up staying in Madrid.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in Spain?

I think the thought that I was completely alone in a new country came over me quickly. I didn’t know where I would be in a month, and I thought it was all crazy but also exciting. But then I quickly moved on to just thinking: “Okay, let’s pack that suitcase, take the metro, and find the apartment where I’ll live for a month.” It only really hit me after I got off the metro, found the apartment, and talked to the landlord. Then I started to enjoy the feeling of adventure, the Spanish sun, and the Madrid atmosphere.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and Spain?

The schedule. Eating times and habits. For example, in the Netherlands, we usually have a quick sandwich for lunch around 12 or 1 PM and dinner around 6 PM. In Spain, people eat lunch around 2, 3, or even 4 PM and take an hour or an hour and a half to go to a restaurant and have a three-course meal, maybe even with a nice glass of Spanish wine. Then they go back to work for a few more hours, have a small snack, and then a (light) meal late in the evening (around 9, 10, or 11 PM). Of course, I didn’t have to stick to this schedule, but since I was living in a new country, I really wanted to experience it and tried to adapt.

Did you ever feel homesick? How did you deal with it?

Yes, sometimes. Especially at times when I knew my whole family was together, then I really wanted to be there too. Or when a group of friends went away for a weekend and I saw all the photos, I felt a bit lonely. But then I reminded myself that I was in Madrid, so I would go for a walk in Retiro Park (one of my favorite places in Madrid) or hang out with some friends, or with my then-boyfriend, and then I felt much better again. Luckily, I generally really enjoyed all the things I did on my own, so I didn’t feel homesick very often.

Did you feel at home in Spain? Why (not)?

Definitely. Madrid is a very friendly city and I loved the atmosphere. I walked everywhere and quickly got to know my neighborhood. I also had some really nice housemates with whom I often had drinks or went out, but also had fun evenings just watching movies, so it felt very homely.

Give us tips on who you should befriend abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

My main reason for going to Spain was to speak fluent Spanish, so I was mostly looking to make Spanish friends! Most Spanish people are very friendly, so I would definitely recommend Spanish. The Irish are also great to hang out with, very hospitable and fun to go out drinking with. Most people I met were amazing and came from Spain, Ireland, Canada, Germany, England, Venezuela...

Describe the people of Spain in three words.

Spontaneous, passionate, social.

Was there a local dish you could NOT handle?

Oh yes, callos. I really couldn’t handle that! They also call it callos a la madrileña because it’s typical for Madrid. It’s a stew with tripe, blood sausage, peppers, and more. Although I can handle blood sausage (it actually tastes pretty good once you know how it’s made), I really didn’t like the tripe! Yes, that’s a part of an animal’s stomach. It doesn’t look appetizing at all and has a strange texture. Many (Spanish) people love callos, but I skip it!

What did you learn from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details!

It was an amazing experience. I loved that there were always people on the streets. Always. People having breakfast on terraces, drinking beer, taking walks, eating tapas. Life in Spain is very much outdoors. I never felt afraid to go home in the middle of the night because there were always people around. By the way, the nightlife in Madrid is amazing. Drinking copas (mixed drinks like gin & tonic, rum & coke) instead of beer, without feeling like they are trying to rip you off — they are generous with alcohol ratios. Good music too. And everyone knows how to dance! Clubs stay open until the early morning, so you can dance all night if you want.

And there are so many different neighborhoods with their own typical vibe that it doesn’t matter what kind of people/music/style you like, I’m sure you’ll find it. I loved that the wine is always good, even when you get it cheaply at the supermarket. I loved the architecture, the beautiful large buildings, the cozy squares, Retiro park. I loved getting a cup of coffee for just €1.30 and enjoying it in the sun. I loved taking a walk at the El Rastro flea market on Sunday morning. I loved the blue sky, almost every day. How beautiful is that? I loved hearing Spanish everywhere around me and expanding my vocabulary with casual expressions, abbreviations, etc.

On a more personal level, I learned to step out of my comfort zone and, for example, go to an event alone to meet new people. Since I didn’t attend classes or anything and worked independently (for companies like the Banco de España teaching English to employees), I had to find other ways to meet people. And I think I became more independent, doing things like opening a bank account, getting an ID number, looking for a room, etc. All in all, it was a truly amazing experience and Madrid has won a very special place in my heart.